Workers urged to embrace a positive work culture

Kapiri Mposhi District Commissioner, Beatrice Sikazwe has advised workers to embrace a positive work culture in order to attract investment for job creation in the district.

Ms. Sikazwe said a positive culture towards work was critical to attracting investment and boosting productivity at work places.

She said workers should demonstrate ability and strive to add value through discipline, punctuality and commitment to work.

Addressing employees who turned up to commemorate this year’s Labour Day whose theme was “transforming the economy through job creation, labour law reforms, better conditions of service and improved work culture”, Ms. Sikazwe said the government was committed to creating more sustainable and decent jobs for the people.

She said the PF government will endeavour to maintain higher economic growth of more than 8 percent which will in turn reduce unemployment levels and poverty in the country.

“As workers, we should embrace a positive work culture because our work culture will either repel or attract investors to our district who will in turn create employment for us and you can do this by remaining committed to your duties,” Ms. Sikazwe said.

The DC further advised employers both in the public and private sectors to provide a conducive work environment for their employees to foster productivity.

She also ordered employers to ensure occupational safety and health and implement laws that govern industrial and labour relations.

Furthermore, Ms. Sikazwe directed employers in the district to implement the revised statutory instruments on minimum wages and conditions of employment in order to raise the standard of living of their employees.

And the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has commended the PF government for the efforts it is making to improve the working conditions in both the public and private sectors.

District ZCTU Chairman Simon Tapalo said the PF government has made strides in ensuring that workers were properly remunerated by their employers through the revision of some labour laws such as the statutory instruments on minimum wages and conditions of employment.

Mr. Tapalo however said there was need for the government to enhance monitoring of some work places in the private sector to ensure that they were enforcing the statutory instruments on minimum wages and conditions of employment.

He noted that most employers were abrogating the revised statutory instrument on minimum wages and conditions of employment.

“The revision of the statutory instruments on minimum wages and conditions of employment was a positive landmark. However just a fraction of employers are enforcing this law. Government through the labour inspectors should improve on monitoring these employers”, Mr. Tapalo said.